Returning for its ninth edition, ART X Lagos presents a transformative showcase of African art, culture, and visionary dialogues, exploring aspirations and possibilities within the theme ‘Promised Lands.’
Fred Ebami, Kaper Jesse Legacy, 2024. Presented by Galerie Mam.
ART X Lagos, West Africa’s leading international art fair, returns for its highly anticipated ninth edition from October 31st to November 3rd, 2024. Since its inception in 2016, ART X Lagos has showcased hundreds of artists from over 70 countries, firmly establishing itself as the leading hub for African and diaspora creatives. This year, the fair will continue its commitment to highlighting African art, culture, and community, while fostering critical conversations on the social and political transformations shaping the continent.
Against a backdrop of challenges being experienced in Nigeria, with political and socio-economic difficulties across Africa and further afield, this year’s theme will explore, “Promised Lands,” – places, real and imagined, that offer hope and a vision of greater freedoms—prompting a critical examination of where Africa and its diaspora aspire to go..
Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, Founder of ART X Lagos, shared: “We are thrilled to present an exceptional lineup of artists, exhibitions and galleries for our ninth edition, representing the diverse and dynamic voices emerging from all corners of Africa and the diaspora. ‘Promised Lands’ is a theme that resonates deeply with our collective journey—reflecting on where we are and envisioning where we aspire to be. It was crucial for us to create a platform that not only anchors the African art movement but also drives meaningful conversations about the social, political, and cultural landscapes of our continent. We remain dedicated to creating an absolutely cannot-miss experience for our artists, cultural partners, gallerists, collectors and visitors from Africa, and around the world.”
Key Highlights for ART X Lagos 2024
10 Curated Galleries
From Lagos, Harare, Accra, London and more, the selection of 10 specially curated galleries at ART X Lagos will present a cross-section of artists from across Africa and its diaspora – each of whom is making a unique contribution to the visual arts ecosystem. These include a mix of emerging talents and established voices, reinforcing ART X Lagos’ mission to foster artistic excellence and cross-cultural collaboration. The 2024 galleries include: Afriart Gallery (Uganda), Alexis Gallery (Nigeria), Galerie MAM (Cameroon), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Affinity Art Gallery (Nigeria), Kanbi Projects (UK), kó (Nigeria), Nike Art Gallery (Nigeria), ODA Art Gallery (Nigeria) and Tiwani Contemporary (UK).
Speakers’ Corner: The Crossroads
Speakers’ Corner, a first-of-its-kind participatory experience, is a transformative space where journeys, cultures, and stories intertwine. This year’s iteration, ‘The Crossroads’, invites the fair’s visitors to reflect on pivotal questions, and their responses will form a tapestry of voices and shared hopes. Conceived by Papa Omotayo and curated in collaboration with Haily Grenet, Fikayo Adebajo, and Dike Anthony, the Speakers’ Corner invites the ART X Lagos audience into a space where every contribution counts and every person can make their mark.
Mark-Makers: Unsung Pioneers
This special exhibition honors overlooked Nigerians who broke boundaries and advocated for their people. From Jonathan Adagogo Green, Nigeria’s first professional photographer, to WWII resistance fighter August Agboola Browne, these figures exemplify resilience and the power of intercultural understanding. Visionaries like Nana Asma’u revolutionized women’s education, while innovators like Professor Augustine Njoku-Obi uplifted communities through science and invention. Curated by Missla Libsekal, and produced by Fikayo Adebajo and Haily Grenet, with historical consultancy by Ed Keazor, the exhibition celebrates extraordinary individuals who redefined what was possible for Africans in science, art, and social activism.
Restless Cities: From Lagos to the World
Celebrated Lagos-born, New York-based photographer, filmmaker, and creative director Andrew Dosunmu will present his first-ever solo exhibition in Africa at ART X Lagos 2024—a significant homecoming that marks a milestone in his illustrious career.The exhibition invites viewers to explore Nigerian cities as living, breathing hubs, mirroring the connections shared in everyday life. Familiar images and experiences reflect the movement of people, ideas, and culture, emphasizing the shared humanity of Africans globally. The exhibition is curated by Papa Omotayo, Tega Okiti, Haily Grenet, and Fikayo Adebajo.
Social Fabrics, Sustainable Threads: Marcellina Akpojotor
This project celebrates the transformative work of Nigerian artist Marcellina Akpojotor, whose use of discarded textiles—particularly Ankara dutch wax fabrics—addresses Lagos’s daily textile waste output of between 100 and 1,000 metric tons, contributing to an estimated 60 billion kilograms of textiles and footwear burned or landfilled worldwide every year. By repurposing these materials, Akpojotor contributes to Nigerian culture with a sustainable, circular approach rooted in local traditions, exemplifying how creativity and sustainability can drive meaningful social change.
Breaking Barriers by Williams Chechet
Nigerian pop artist and cultural commentator Williams Chechet brings his distinctive Afro-futurist lens to ART X Lagos 2024 with his new exhibition “Breaking Barriers.” This project imagines a future where Nigerians and Africans navigate the momentum of social change through the fusion of art, culture, and activism. Curated by Haily Grenet and Fikayo Adebajo, this promises to be a captivating exploration of history, future, and identity.
ART X Live!
The fair’s one-of-a-kind live music and art experience returns for a night of exceptional storytelling. Curated by Lanre Masha and Ayo Lawson, this edition connects the dots between Nigeria’s past, present, and future sounds. Attendees can expect a concert experience where traditional Fuji music meets contemporary genres, featuring performances by Adewale Ayuba, Cruel Santino (aka Santi), and other multi-hyphenate African artists, with creative direction from visual artist Niyi Okeowo and producer Odunsi (The Engine).
ART X Cinema
Enhancing the fair’s multidisciplinary approach, ART X Cinema presents a curated selection of 13 films by a new generation of African and diaspora filmmakers and artists. Curated by Tega Okiti, this program showcases storytellers whose works challenge and illuminate the trajectories of African and African-descended people worldwide.
Access ART X Prize Winners’ Exhibitions
The 2023 prize winners, Julius Agbaje (Nigeria Award) and Shabu Mwangi (Africa/Diaspora Award), will host solo exhibitions around the concept of “What May Come.” Curated by Jumoke Sanwo, these exhibitions encourage reflection on societal complexities while envisioning futures to long for.
In addition, the Access ART X Prize will present a retrospective of its previous 8 prizewinners and the lasting legacy of the experience on their development, their networks, and the arts landscape as a whole. The project will present a window into how far they have traveled since the Prize – the major milestones and special moments that reflect the exponential growth in the ambition of the Prize itself.
Art Across Borders: Where to Go
In collaboration with Afreximbank, ART X Lagos presents Art Across Borders: Where to Go, a profound examination of the African imagination. Six mid-career artists from Africa and the Caribbean will present works exploring where Africans go to encounter their ancestors and contemplate future possibilities. Curated by Jumoke Sanwo, this exhibition aligns with the fair’s overarching theme of Promised Lands.
ART X Talks
ART X Talks is a dynamic platform for engaging dialogue that offers diverse perspectives on African art, addresses critical issues on the continent and the diaspora, while offering insights into the intersections of art, culture and more. This year ART X Talks will feature a conversation with filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu on his journey into the world of storytelling; a collaboration between ART X Live! and Native, exploring how traditional African music genres continue to shape youth culture and contemporary African pop music; additionally, the program will feature a conversation between Ed Keazor and Missla Libsekal, the curatorial duo behind the Mark-Makers exhibition.
The Schools’ Programme
At the heart of ART X Lagos is a commitment to nurturing and inspiring the next generation of African talent. The Schools’ Programme will reach 750 students from underserved communities across Lagos, expanding their access to art and inspiring creativity. This initiative ensures that art becomes a vehicle for education and empowerment for young Africans.
The Development Forum
The Development Forum aims at bridging the gap between young art practitioners and the art industry. Working as an orientation, The Development Forum is a conversation that brings together emerging artists and art professionals from all horizons, in an informal and welcoming set up, to explore the various paths open to artists and curators, to build and advance their careers within the art ecosystem. It’s an opportunity for all to learn, share, network and be inspired.
Pan-African Library
Expanded for 2024, the Pan-African Library offers visitors a collection of over 200 books, magazines, and archival materials focused on Pan-Africanism, colonial history, modernism, and African diasporic studies. In addition, dedicated listening stations and curated documentaries will enhance the experience, making this an essential stop for cultural exploration during the fair.
ART X Lagos has rapidly become a fixture for African art, culture, and creativity. As a key moment on the continent, the fair will continue to redefine held views of the African narrative while also building bridges between local and international audiences and their communities.
For more information, visit artxlagos.com, Instagram @artxlagos.
